Padma Lakshmi Shows Support for the Time's Up Movement: "Enough Is Enough"

Padma added her voice to the initiative that took center stage at the Golden Globes.

By Laura Rosenfeld Jan 7, 2018, 7:52 PM ET

Padma Lakshmi Celebrates Embracing Being a Woman Online and In Real Life

Padma Lakshmi joined Hollywood's biggest stars in protesting sexual harassment, intimidation, and abuse in the workplace in a heartfelt note published on Instagram Sunday.

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The Top Chef host and judge showed her support for the Time's Up movement, which was launched Monday by 300 of the most prominent women in Hollywood, including Reese Witherspoon, Emma Stone, and Kerry Washington, and took center stage at the 75th Annual Golden Globes on Sunday. Padma praised the initiative for giving Anita Hill "the place of pride she deserves for her courage" for bringing awareness to sexual harassment in the workplace more than 25 years ago.

Itâs easy to roll our eyes and say well these women âdonât have much to loseâ and âdonât they wear a lot of black anywayâ but this movement has raised $15 million and finally given Anita Hill the place of pride she deserves for her courage. I remember being young and watching Anita Hill on tv in those senate hearings and how we were all disappointed that Clarence Thomas still made it to the highest court in the land when there was clearly no upside to her speaking out. It sent a powerful negative message to every girl and woman in my generation: âyou donât matter, just shut up and be thankful for whatever we men are willing to let you have- whether youâve earned it or not. You donât get to say that you deserve to be respected if we donât want to respect you.â Well those girls of my generation have grown up to be women now and some of us have power as women. And we will not let our daughters (or sons) internalize that sinister and negative message. Because enough is enough. That legal defense fund will hopefully make it easier for those who donât have power to regain some equality in their own struggle against sexual harassment and assault and discrimination. As a woman in a male dominated profession and frankly, world, I believe every gesture- sartorial, and otherwise is important. So tonight I too will be watching tv at home and will be wearing black (even if I already wear black a lot!). Please click on the link in bio to donate if you can, and apply to use it if you need to. And if you do join me in wearing black, pls take a selfie and tag me. Would love to see all of you tonight. #blackisbeautiful #metoo #timesup #Repost @timesupnow
A post shared by Padma Lakshmi (@padmalakshmi) on Jan 7, 2018 at 11:08am PST

Padma wrote that that moment "sent a powerful negative message to every girl and woman in my generation." But now Padma feels a real change is upon us. "Well those girls of my generation have grown up to be women now and some of us have power as women. And we will not let our daughters (or sons) internalize that sinister and negative message," Padma wrote. "Because enough is enough."

Part of the Time's Up initiative will be to set up a Legal Defense Fund to help provide legal support to those who have experienced sexual harassment or related retaliation in the workplace. "That legal defense fund will hopefully make it easier for those who don’t have power to regain some equality in their own struggle against sexual harassment and assault and discrimination," Padma praised the effort in her Instagram post.

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Padma supported all of the actors and actresses wearing black in solidarity with this movement and encourage everyone else watching from home to do the same. "As a woman in a male dominated profession and frankly, world, I believe every gesture- sartorial, and otherwise is important," she wrote. "So tonight I too will be watching tv at home and will be wearing black (even if I already wear black a lot!)."

Padma has been lending her voice to those speaking out about sexual assault and harassment in the workplace, including an impassioned note on Instagram following Matt Lauer's firing from TODAY in December and a show of support for the #MeToo movement.